Piz Palü (3,900 m) is a large glaciated massif composed of three summits on a ridge. The current route is long and goes over highly crevassed glacier, the tour requires knowledge of crevasse rescue and extensive glacier experience.
Ascent: Ideally the tour starts from Diavolezza. You can either take the cable car or sleep in the hut on previous day. If you sleep in the hut, you have advantage that you can start very early in the morning as the first cable car starts at 8am. Surprisingly the cost of one way ascent in the cable car is relatively cheap (31 CHF as of 2022).
The tour begins with a rapid descent to the Persglacier which later becomes even steeper. You have to take extra care here as in the morning, the snow is hard. After arriving at the glacier, rope up with your team and start the ascent. In the beginning the glacier is quite flat. Soon we take the curve on the left towards the rock face of Piz Cambrena. Now you will see in front a very crevassed section, you have to find your own way here but we passed on the crevasses on our right side. Again the glacier becomes flat before arriving at the next crevassed part of the glacier. There it's very steep up to 45 degrees and finally you arrive the ridge where you can put your ski. The last part to the summit is done on foot on exposed ridge.
Descent: Same as ascent. You have a possibility to go back to the hut and follow the ski slopes to the parking. It's good option especially in the late spring season as ski tour.
Webcam: Towards Piz Palü
Weather: Summit
